The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1887-01-12

constructed to seat 10000 persons, and
there were close upon that number pres
eut - the premiere d the series which
Wa given on Sunday week. The price,
% admission ranged from IS On the
Z shady side Of the plaza 20 ~ on the
sunny side. A private box to hold six.
/ IN edition, cpstg according to position,
/ from Gao 70 $50. On Meantime drss
entrance into the ring be was received
with tempest of applause, reminding
me Of the explosive outburst that Is heard
when favorite OF the DeEby sllOots-past
the winning post at EPSON. Then the
/ picadores and banderiIleTS appear, and
finally detachment Of w1lat the Cubans
call the monos sabios (wisaC monkeys),
who are really the negroes &lio de The
rough work and dRuggery for he lidia-
dores. The men all take their PLACES, the
ball Is turned In, stands at bay forNfew
seconds, end. with q dazed air, usually
makes a rush for a horse ON which Is
mounted a picadore.
The frst bull was a handsome black
| animal, with prominent and powerful
horns (bien encornado). as the official
minutes he killed six horses. An the
efforts Of the espadas and the banderil-
j Ieros 10 attract his attention were fruit
less. He went straight for the horses, and
sudden slaughter was the result. Thisto
4 me was the most painfnI portion Of the
Performance, as the play with the bull,
the surprising dash Of the men over the
arena, the gay costumes, the mad excite
nient Of the audience, the wonderful
nerve Of Mazzantini before he gave the
| huge beast the coup De grace, were all
| calculated to interest and excite rather
than to disgust. MazZantini, By the way,
wore a superb costume af green and gold,
heavily and exquisitely embroidered. The
picadors were clad In bun and silver,
while the mental and active monos sabioS
wore red caps and jackets. The entire
staff were practical acrobats, for occasion
tally, when the bull made a sudden charge
in their direction, the whole Of the per-
formers leaped the palings Of the inclos-
ure with a speed and nimbleness sug-
\ gestlye of long training In . circus. More
adroit dodgers" and jumpers certainly
never gazed upon. NJ -
There were six bulls engaged In sep.
arate contests, and the mollus operandj
was much the same in each case. The
picadores use as a lance pole Terminal
ing in a short sharp spike. When the
bull dashes at the horse the picadore
lunges at the animal, wounding him
usually IN the shoulder. In most cases
| he pays but scant attention to the irritat-
/ ing thrust, but cores the horse, happily
/ making short and mortal work of tlnt
| portion of tho combat. The rider disen-
cages himself as bcst he may, and while
doing 20 banderillero, to attract the 1t
tention Of the bull, filings red cloak in
1 hisfaec. Thiscalls him OF, and he makes
chase, being diverted in his course by
others of his tormentors, until he Is
worked up to high pitch of fury. While
this goes on the thousands of Spectators
shout their loudest, and when an adroit
turn or a clever coup Is made by per-
former the more enthusiastic throw their
caps into the arena, crying. s'Brayo,
toroi'' 'sBien pegado hombre!" And
the. ampitheater is seethings bowling
mass of humanity.
During the progress of the fight the
banderillerOS, In order to keep the bull IN
an enr9ged condition, thrust sticks, in the
ends OF which are barbed points lilke the
half Of an arrow IN his neck, near the
shoulders. To execute this with GER
tainty and adroitness the performer must
face the bull, and the boldness with which
he takes up his position Is surprising.
While one banderillo swiftly delivers the
barbs another stands Close at hand ready
with his dull red cloak &c cover the re-
treat Of his companion. In Spain am
told that when q bull is fndisposed to
show fight or sinks away and fails to be
aroused by these naddening weapons
they are supplemented by fireworks,
viii n ignite when they touch the body
and blister him to agony and fury. None
Of the animals engaged IN the Plaza de Il
Habana required this hendish stimulant
toincite them to action. On the contrary,
they entered into the spirit of the fight
with as much eagerness and animation as
did the performers.
Senior Francisco Alvarez, who gracious
" accorded me a seat IN his box, and who
has witnessed many trays IN Madrid and
Seville, assured me that he had never.
seen 50 brisk a set of pugnacious bulls.
These animals, by the way, are reared IN
AndaIusia especially for the ring, and cost
$500 each to land in Havana. Their pedi-
grees were given IN the programme with
many details anent their breeding and
condition. The supreme morSent at length
arrives. After sufficient teasing and tort
uring the enraged animal must be killed.
The espado, who has closely watched the
maneuvers of the banderilleros, comes
jauntily forward, bows gracefully right
and left to the vast throng, and throws
his black embroidered cap high into the
aus ne carries = enOrGs SIralgnG sword
and scarlet cloak. Headvances toward
his antagonist and proyol1es his attention.
He exasperates him by Haunting the red
mantle. the BULL "goes for him. and he
leaps airoitIy on one side. These move
ments are repeated several times, and
when he gets his victim well in position
the slSilful niatador, with fiendish grace,
delivers his weapon almost 10 the hit be-
tween the shoulder blade and the spine.
It seems miracle that he Is not Inn
paled on the, horns Of the beast, from
whose mouth gushes torrent of blood.
He reels, RECEIVERS himself, makes q feeble
show Of resistance and falls dead. The
trumpets blare out fanfare, the VIC
torioas assailant recoYers his cap, smiles
and bows low to the president of the day,
who Is seated IN coy box, and the
mighty multitude express their delight
and approval in frantic paroxysmal
howl Of reclamation. The masculine por-
ton OF the audience srRys about with q:
ferocity Of movement suggestive 81 tigers
rather than human beipgs;. the. ladies'
wildly wave their fans and ilandkerclicfs,
and even the children Join in the universal
and bewildering panic. II is q moment
OF madness, q stupendous spectacle Of
Roman barbarity of which we read in
histories Of the past.-Hasana Cor. New
York World. L. Z